Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Training Robots To Recognize You Is A Bad Idea
Active Appearance Modeling is an apparently helpful technology developed to help robots identify individual human beings. Let's take a closer look at how this works.
It's hard enough just to get computers to identify faces, let alone individual faces. However, now even cameras know how to identify faces (OKAO Vision Lets Machines See You Smile).
The next problem is to identify a face regardless of how it is presented to the camera (front and side). The video shown below gives you an idea of how computer brains can do it.
(Active Appearance Modeling video)
The basic idea is to identify specific landmarks on a person's face, like the eyes, eyebrows, mouth, nose and so on. Then, a mesh can be created by connecting these landmarks. Finally, the computer is able to create a three-dimensional mesh model of an individual face.
Carnegie Mellon University researchers are pushing this idea even further. Their active appearance modeling software can identify faces that are partially occluded by objects.
CMU is even working on advanced algorithms to fit AAMs to low resolution images, like those created by cheap webcams, or in poor lighting conditions where digital cameras cannot record a clear image.
Is this a good idea? I guess it would be good if my Scooba floor-washing robot or LawnBott robotic mower could recognize me. But is there a downside to being recognized by robots?
("You are experiencing a car accident")
I thought so. I'm sure there are other examples (readers?).
This article was inspired by this happy-go-lucky post at io9; see also Advance interaction using facial information and AAM Fitting Algorithms at CMU.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 5/21/2008)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 5 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
Epirus High-Power Microwave Defeats Drones
'...the spreading beam of the deranging ray struck them, and Then one toppled and fell. Then another.' - Ray Cummings, 1931.
It's A Giant Robot! You Reporters Have Been Warned!
'... completely forgetting the ship at sight of the awesome figure and great head of the giant Gaut...'
Tactile Skin Supplier Map
'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!' - Ray Cummings, 1931.
Robot Bees 3D Printed By Festo
'At first I was struck by the large size of these bees..' - Ernst Junger, 1957.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
'If Anyone Is Watching Earth...'
'Our study of your race has convinced us that you are not fitted to leave your planet in the present state of your civilization.'
Epirus High-Power Microwave Defeats Drones
'...the spreading beam of the deranging ray struck them, and Then one toppled and fell. Then another.'
Cloud Of Space Rubbish From China's Long March Rocket
'Within seconds the material was spread out over fifty yards, in a matter of hours it might occupy several cubic miles of space...'
Biomimetic Tendons From Rochu Robotics
'... the curious parallelism to animal motions.'
Living Human Neuron Biological Compute Rack
'The men are dead, but their acquired wisdom lives on and I am the beneficiary.'
Martha Stewart Approves Ojai 'Living Room On Wheels'
'Young people found the driverless car admirable for petting.'
ESA's Draco To Study Heat Of Reentry
'...a synthetic which air-friction would erode.'
Buy A Galaxy? Maybe Start Smaller
'The sky is the limit' just got higher.
The United States Space Academy Is Official
'Is our orbit to Space Academy clear?'
Is There A Global Problem With Who Is Having Children?
'After twenty generations of shillyshallying...'
You Will Eat The Cookies Made From Plastic...
'Our planes are going to start bringing in bales of discarded plastics...'
It's A Giant Robot! You Reporters Have Been Warned!
'... completely forgetting the ship at sight of the awesome figure and great head of the giant Gaut...'
Birds Learn To Sing Pictures ala Frank Herbert's Distrans
'We will fight in the time of fighting.'
ElectionSim: China's 'Ender's Game' Battle Sim, Or Lem's 'Kingdom In A Box'?
'So, Ender, we will now begin your education.'
Tactile Skin Supplier Map
'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!'
Flock Stymied By 'Adversarial Fashion'
'Forget the head atop it, the legs below, feet, arms, hands. It compels erasure.'
